Swimming appliance



I J. REITER 4 SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 9, 1922 Patented Mar. l3, 1923.

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SWIM'MING APPLIANCE.

Application filed October 9, 1922. Serial No. 593,186.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I Josnrn Rnirnn a citizen of the United States. residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Appliances, 01 which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally toswimmers appliances,having more particular reference to a device in the form of a receptacle or container which can be used as a kit bag under ordinary circumstances and as a life-buoy in an emergency, the invention having for an object to provide a simple device of this nature. The present invent-ion 1s a further development of one shown in a patent issued to me on September 19,1922 under No. 1,429,773.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will :b'ehad to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view showing my improved appliance and illustrating the manner in which it is mounted on the back of the user.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the means for closing the bottom of the receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view showing a modified form of receptacle.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of this modified construction illustrating the means for releasing the inner container.

Referring now to the invention as embodied in Fig. l of the drawings 1 provide a pair of boxes 10 of elongated rectangular form and which are adapted to be mounted on the back of the user. These boxes are connected together by a short strap 11, which is suitably fastened to their adjacent sides, and have secured to their other sides the straps 12 and 13 one of which may be provided with a buckle 14 on its free end. while the other is formed with a row of apertures 15. These straps are buckled device into a lifebuoy when desired.

-means of crossed straps 16 passed over the shoulders and connected at their ends to the respective boxes.

These boxes may air-tight covers 18 eachof which may have a rubber gasket 19 thereonto ensure of an air-tight joint. To secure these covers tightly in place they are formed with laterally projecting lugs 20 from which screws 21 extend along the .sides of the box. These screws pass through eye members 22 fixed to the box and have nuts 23 threaded thereon' and bearing on said eye members.

I Connected to the respective boxes are cords 24 which have webbedv gloves 25 attached to their ends. to. aid in swimming. These gloves may be normally carried in the belt formed by the straps 12, 13.

in Figs. 3 and 4 I have'shown a modified arrangement adapted to permit of substantially instantaneous conversion of t:l[1e

n this construction I provide a pair of'boxes 30 such as of ashape similar tothe :b'oxes 1.0 and each having an-open lower end. In. the upper end of each box an expansible' air bag 31 is positioned which may be inflated through a valve 32 of ordinary construction.

This bag is confined in the upper portion of the box 30 by means of a horizontal door 33 extending across said box and hinged at one side as at 34. Belowthe door 33 a container 35 for food or equipment is inserted in the box. Projecting slidably through the side of the box and engaging below the door 33 and container 35 are bolts 36 and 37 respectively.

. The bolt 36 is pivotally connected, at its outer end to one arm of a bell crank lever 38, whilethe bolt 37 has a threaded portion 37 which passes through an'interiorly threaded sleeve, or elongated nut, 40 and has a knurled head 41 whereby it may be rotated. This sleeve 40 is pivotally connected to one arm of a second bell crank lever 38, these bell crank levers being fulcrumed to brackets 42 on the side of the box.

To the other ends of these bell crank levers a pair of rigid links 44 are connected, these links extending toward one another and being connected together. To these links, at their meeting ends is attached one end of the cord 24 which has the webbed glove 25 on its other end. Engaged between the side be closed at one end by of the box and the bell crank levers 38, 38 are expansion springs 45. v

This device operates as follows: The expansible air bag 31 is kept inflated with air under suflicient pressure to permit it to expand and fill the box 30 when the container 35 is removed. 1 Under normal conditions the bolts 37 are held in looking position against the pressure of the springs 45 acting on the bell crank levers 88, 38 by the links 44- bearing against the side oi the box. as shown. WVhen the device to be used as liiebnoy the cord 24 is pulled, swingingthe links at outwardly, and in consequence, allowing the springs 45 to remove the bolts 36, 37 from under the door 33 and container The container is then automatically discharged from the box, the bag 31 expanding and filling the same. W' hen the container is to be removed from the box for access to the contents thereof only, the bolt 37 is screwed outwardly through the sleeve 40 until it disengages from the container.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: v

1. In a device of the class described, a box, a removable container normally occupying the lower part 01 said box, and an expansible air bag in said box above said container and adapted to expand into the space in the box normally occupied by said container.

2. Ina device of the class described, a box, a container occupying the lower part of said box, and an. expansible air bag in said box above said container, a hinged door separat,

ing said air bag and container, and releasable locking means for said door.

3. In a device of the class described, a box, a container occupying the lower part of said box, and an expansible air bag in said box above said container, a hinged door separating said air bag and container, a pair of bolts for holding said door in said position and said container in said box, and a unitary releasing means for said bolts.

l. In a device of the class described, a box, a container occupying the lower part of said box, and an expansible air bagin said box above said container, a hinged door separating said air bag and container, 2. pair of bolts for holding said door in said position and said container in said box, and a unitary releasing means for said bolts, andindependent means for releasing said container holding bolt alone. I

5. In a device of the class described, a box, a container occupying the lower part of said box, and an expansible air bag in said box above said container, a hinged door separating said air bag and contalner, a pair of bolts tor holdlng said door 1n saidposition and said container in said box, and a unitary releasing means for said bolts, said unitary releasing means comprising, bell crank levers to which said'bolts are con nected, springs bearing on said levers a pair of rigid links connected at opposite ends to said levers and at adjacent ends to one another, and a cord attached to said levers.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my.

signature.

' JOSEPH REITER. 

